Updated 26 October 2026. Use these five checks to plan a cloud migration around your applications, people and recovery needs.
Moving business systems to the cloud can make collaboration and administration easier. The right outcome depends on the workload, its configuration and the way your team works. A successful migration starts with a clear plan for the services you need and the responsibilities you retain.
1. Map your applications, data and dependencies
List the applications, file shares, email accounts, devices and integrations that keep the business running. Record who owns each system, how staff access it and which other systems depend on it. Check compatibility before committing to a migration. Some workloads may remain on premises or need a staged transition.
2. Compare the full operating cost
Allow for subscriptions, implementation work, support, connectivity, backup and future growth. Confirm how storage, usage and licence changes affect the bill. Agree a migration scope, acceptance criteria and a realistic allowance for staff training.
3. Assign identity, security and backup responsibilities
Cloud providers and customers share responsibilities. Your organisation still needs to manage its users, access permissions, devices and data. Confirm who configures multifactor authentication, monitors accounts, removes former staff access and maintains recoverable backups. Microsoft explains the division in its shared responsibility guidance.
4. Pilot the change and prepare a fallback
Test a representative group of users and real business workflows before a wider rollout. Check file permissions, application connections, internet performance and remote access. Set a cutover window, nominate the people who can approve it and document how the team will recover if a critical check fails.
5. Verify the result after migration
Reconcile migrated data, test access with ordinary user accounts and confirm that backup and restore procedures work. Give staff a clear support route and review the service after the first working week. Keep a record of outstanding issues and responsibility for resolving them.
Plan your next step
Explore Microsoft 365 and cloud services and backup and business continuity. If you need help choosing a migration path, talk to MaxIT about your current environment and business priorities.